He wakes up in the morning
Does his teeth bite to eat and he's rolling
Never changes a thing
The week ends the week begins
She thinks, we look at each other
Wondering what the other is thinking
But we never say a thing
These crimes between us grow deeper

Goes to visit his mommy
She feeds him well his concerns
He forgets them
And remembers being small
Playing under the table and dreaming

Take these chances
Place them in a box until a quieter time
Lights down, you up and die

Driving in on this highway
All these cars and upon the sidewalk
People in every direction
No words exchanged
No time to exchange

And all the little ants are marching
Red and black antennas waving
They all do it the same
They all do it the same way

Candyman tempting the thoughts of a
Sweet tooth tortured by the weight loss
Program cutting the corners
Loose end, loose end, cut, cut
On the fence, could not to offend
Cut, cut, cut, cut

Take these chances
Place them in a box until a quieter time
Lights down, you up and die



Lyrics submitted by kevin

Track duration: 04:31


Ants Marching song meanings
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82 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:This song goes perfectly along with Henry David Thoreau's "Walden." One thing Thoreau is famous for saying is "we live meanly, as ants" This basically means that people go through the same pattern every day, and they are too afraid to break out of the rut... This song fits perfectly....the meaning is self explanatory.
    Flag musicalpolkadotson November 16, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think the candyman is symbolic of the temptations that we all encounter to let lose and have fun. The sweet tooth represents our inhibitions. We secretly desire nothing more than to break free but cannot because we are tortured by the monotonous grind of everyday life (weight loss program). We're too afraid to give in to our sweet tooth and enjoy life for fear of where the risk may lead us or what others may think.
    Flag closetlyricnerdon March 26, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:^On the fence, could not to offend^ - lyrics up top

    First off I would like to say I believe the line is "on the fence, as not to offend"- but i could be wrong

    This basically means your not choosing sides, in order to not offend anyone.
    The subject of that could be interpreted as not choosing sides on religion, politics, etc.
    But I honestly believe he is talking about being on the fence between heterosexuality and homosexuality. Many people choose not to express their sexuality as to not offend people. AND it is not unheard of for Dave to have some interesting lyrical mix-ups in his songs that would suggest he may be bisexual or at least experimented. One being I forget the date but Dave sings in "say goodbye" which is about a one night stand, something like you have your wife and I have my wife.

    Just an interesting interpretation which goes along with the majority of other people’s interpretations about the song.
    Flagged cellordoreon December 26, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think the meaning of this song is self-explanatory, but Dave presents it creatively with a deceptively cheerful beat that sometimes overpowers the sobering lyrics beneath it. The light, happy music is symbolic of the way that people are blissfully ignorant of their entrapment in the stultifying routines of life. Oddly enough, I thought this might be a country song when I first heard it. Vocally, it's certainly one of Dave's best.
    Flag goddesscarolineon September 25, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Actually, I don't really know what I like more. What Would You Say or Ants Marching. I can't decide.
    Flag stellarstefanyon August 06, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is the best song to wake up to. That beat in the beginning gets me every time. Best song from Under the Table and Dreaming album, in my opinion. Satellite is next best.
    Flag stellarstefanyon August 06, 2009   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:one of the first psychedelic (mind manifesting) songs by this artist that i completely follow. i'd mention hinduism but i think that's commonly understood. it's so solid. and by the way, 'under the table' means inebriated.
    Flag tellmecomputeron June 29, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:he actually wrote this song when his cousin or whatever visited him in africa, and they stayed in a house, and dave woke up in the middle of the night and heard someone laughing. (it was ant season in africa) he went into the bathroom and saw his relative standing over the bathtub with a lighter and some gas and burning all these ants that were huge. his relative was from the city so he had never seen ants that big. so thats just when the song was wrote, its not what its about i think.
    Flag SMAKBALLZon March 29, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I am from South Africa and Dave Matthews actually went to my school (St Stithians), although he is MUCH older then me! But when I hear this song all i can think is AFRICA AFRICA AFRICA....it really does have the heartbeat of Africa and SOuth Africa in it!! BRILLIANT!!!
    Flag Mtrevenaon July 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i have to agree with the person that commented that this song may have to do with heroin addiction. for those who are appalled at the merest suggestion, dave mathews has been in the past quite vocal about past heroin addiction, so it's not so far fetched. in fact, a lot of his earlier work does related his struggle to deal with his habit. "goes to visit his mommy. she feeds him well his concerns he forgets them. and remembers being small. playing under the table and dreaming" to me, sounds an awful lot like getting a fix. not the most ideal interpretation, but still plausible.
    Flag kosmikluvaon December 11, 2007   Link

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